Apparatus for the manufacture of acid sulfurous preparations.



F. E. COOMBS.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ACID SULFUROUS PREPARATIONS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16. 1912.

Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wbbmeooa F. E. COOMBS.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ACID SULFUROUS PREPARATIONS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16, 1912. 1,147,376. Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FRANK E. COOMBS, AU SAIBLE FORKS, NEW'YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ACID SULFUROUS PREPARATIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1915.

Application filed April 16, 1912. Serial No. 691,231.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. CooMBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Au Sable Forks, in the county of Essex and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acid Sulfurous Preparations, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of acid sulfurous preparations; and it comprises means for burning sulfur to produce sulfurous preparations, said means comprising a valve controlled device for supplying low temperature molten sulfur in regulable amounts, a retort or like means receiving such molten sulfur and means for burning sulfur vapor produced in such retort or like means; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

The present invention comprises a simple, cheap and ready means for producing relatively concentrated solutions of sulfurous acid, or of acid sulfites such as the acid sulfite of lime, mixed acid sulfites of lime and magnesia, acid sulfite of soda, etc., and for applying SO, in the defecation of cane and beet juice in the manufacture of sugar.

The regulable combustion of sulfur oifers some difliculty in practice owing to the properties of that element, which forms several allotropic modifications having different physical properties. Rhombic, or ordinary sulfur, melts at about 114 (3., to form a thin liquid which flows readily and can be discharged from jet nozzles. As the heat increases however the liquid sulfur changes into another and allotropic viscid form in increasing proportions with the rise of temperature until at about 200 it becomes black and so thick and gummy as to be quite difficult to handle. In using a feed of liquid sulfur it is therefore necessary to work between rather narrow temperature limits, usually between 115 and 130 C. At still higher temperatures it vaporizes freely, boiling finally at about 444 C. There is of course no difliculty in handling the vapor.

In the present invention, it is desirable to control the flow or feed of sulfur to the combustion device and'to control the combustion within rather narrow limits, and the foregoing principles are therefore utilized.

In the present invention, the sulfur to be burnt is supplied to a suitable combustion device to produce sulfur dioxid and a current of this sulfur dioxid is led into a countercurrent device where it meets a downflowing flow of water, or other liquid, or of water carrying a suitable base. This flow is utilized to form and regulate the draft producing the dioxid current.

In the accompanying illustration I have shown, rather diagrammatically, certain means within the present invention.

In this showing, Figure 1 is a perspective view with certain elements in section, showing a complete apparatus for making sulfurous acid or acid sulfite solution, or for sulfitation of sugar juices; Fig. 2 is a section showing a sulfur feeding device; Fig. 3 is a section of a combustion chamber for sulfur; Fig. 4 is another view of the same on line m-w of Fig. 3 showing the feeding device assembledwith the burner; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of another form of combustion chamber; and Fig. 6 is another section of the same on line y 1 of- Fig. 5. l

- In the showing of Fig. 1, element 1 re resents a sulfur burner and 2 a sulfur eed thereto. The burner delivers sulfur dioxid into conduit 3, valved at 4 and having an extension 5 leading to a stack (not shown) or other means of disposing of waste gas. Below the valve is another communicating conduit 6 leading to absorber 7. Interiorly this absorber may have any usual construction, such as cross-plates (not shown), baffles, etc. The inlet for sulfur dioxid enters the absorber at a low point. At the top, liquid, such as sugar liquor, water, lime water, milk of lime, soda solution, etc, is fed in through pipe 8, fed by pump 9 having steam inlet 10. The bottom of the absorber vessel is tapered to form a jet nozzle 11, surrounded by an injector casing 12. Between this casing and the top of the absorber extends a pipe 13. The outflow of solution from the absorber with this arrangement serves to cause a draft of gas through the absorber. Below the injector casing extends liquor pipe 14, which may have a bend in it to aid in the suction of the downgoing liquid. The end of the liquid pipe extends into reservoir 15, where it is liquid sealed. In this reservoir is located a float 16 having a stem 17 extending upward through guide 18 into engagement with rocker arm 19. This rocker engages cross-bar 20 which at one end controls valve 21 in the steam inlet of the pump supplying liquid to the absorber. Liquid is removed from the reservoir by pump 22 and sent to a place of use through pipe 23. pump by steam pipe 24 having a valve 25 controlled by the other end of the cross-bar. The float stem may further actuate through a chain 26, or other suitable connection, the damper or valve (4) in the waste pipe for sulfur dioxid.

In Fig. 2 is shown in detail the construction of the sulfur feed (2) for the sulfur burner (1). In this feed device, there is a sulfur casing (marked 2) or hopper for containing sulfur. As shown, this is mounted in casting 27 of the general shape of .a funnel, having a downward continuation as pipe 28. At the top it is laterally flanged at 29. Fitting around this casting but spaced away somewhat to form a chamber therebetween is a casing 30 having a corresponding lateral flange 31 at its top. At the bottom it encircles the downward pipe-like continuation of the casting, suitable packing means being employed to make a joint therebetween. Heating liquid may be led into the chamber through 32 and condensate discharged at 33. At the top, the sulfur hopper or casing may be bridged by bar 34 in which is screw-threaded valve rod 35, provided with hand-wheel 36 and extending downward to a cone-shaped valve plug 37 adapted to seat in the stated pipe-like continuation (28) of the casting and close the same. Cross-rod 38 may be provided in the sulfur hopper for supporting the valve rod. It is a useful expedient to surround the valve rod with a protective tubular jacket or casing 39. This sulfur feeding device may be used in connection with the form of sulfur burner shown in Figs. 3 and 4 or that of Figs. 5 and 6.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the burner is constituted by a bottom plate, flanged at 39' and having an upwardly extending wall 40. The bottom slopes toward the center and is rovided with a series of transverse ri ges 41.

Mounted on this bottom is a casing 42 pro- -vided with outlet 43 for sulfur dioxid and inlets 44 and 45 for admission of air, these inlets beingg'snitably closed, as by plate 46, for controlling the amount of air admitted. llnlet 47 permits the introduction of molten sulfur from the discharge pipe (28) of the sulfur feeding device. By allowing thinly liquid sulfur to drip down on the bottom or hearth the space between the first pair of ridges can be filled, and then, by overflow, the space between the second, and so on. The area of molten sulfur exposed for combustion can thus be adjusted and thereby the rate of production of sulfur dioxid.

In the structure of Figs. 5 and 6, in lieu of directly delivering the thinly liquid molten sulfur-to a burning hearth itis delivered to a volatilizing hearth or retort and sent Steam is furnished the I through 13, thereby causing a ampere into the burner proper as vapor. lln this structure, element 48 is a box-like casting having an outlet (43) for sulfur dioxid. At opposite points are two air inlets, 49 and 50 adjustably closed by doors 51, 52. At its top, the casting has a volatilizer element or hearth 53 sloping downwardly toward one end. At the other end it is provided with a channeled downward prolongation 54, the channel being arranged to form a jet nozzle 55. Seated in this prolongation and in open communication with the nozzle is air pipe 56 leading from a suitable source (not shown) of air under pressure. Mounted above this volatilizer element and closing the retort chamber which it forms, is a plate 57 carrying the inlet pipe (28) from the sulfur feed. 2 In the operation of the present invention, sulfur molten at a temperature at which it is thinly liquid and will flow freely, best around 120 (1., is fed down into the sulfur burner from 2. Here it is converted into sulfur dioxid which ascends through pipe 3. If for any reason the apparatus is temporarily out of function as regards using the sulfur dioxid, the gas may be allowed to escape through 5. Normally however the gas passes by 6 into 7 where it is met by downflowing water, sugar liquor, or water and base, according to whether sulfurous acid or an acid sulfite is desired. The Sittlb rated solution escapes downward through 11 and pulls residual gas from the absorber draft through the entire apparatus. As the solution accumulates in 15, the float rises closing the steam inlet to pump 9, thereby stopping the feed of liquid to the absorber and, also the draft through the sulfur burner and system generally. At the same time, the waste gas outlet damper 4 may be opened to dispose of any residual sulfur dioxid in case the rise is s'ufficient to stop operation. The rise in the float however tends to open valve 25 allowing steam to go to pump 22 and discharge liquid -from the reservoir through 2 3.

As will be perceived, the whole system is governed by the float in the reservoir and is very sensitive to changes in demand for liquor.

In the sulfur feed, the amount of steam led into the heating jacketshould be that which will just about melt the sulfur sufficiently to form a thinly liquid product which will feed regularly through 28. Any

increase in temperature over about 140 J. will prevent the regular feed necessary in the present invention. The liquid sulfur in the furnace f Fig. 3 is introduced at a rate which will orm a pool of the desired area on the hearth, the ridges 41 aiding materially in gaging the exposed area. The amount of sulfur burning per time unit is of course proportional to the surface area. In the furnace of Fig. 6, the thinly liquid sulfur delivered from 28 runs down to the deepest part of the hearth where it is boiled or volatilized by the heat of the combustion below and the vapors passing out through 55 are carried forward by a jet of air from 56, thus forming a flame plume of burnin sulfur immediately;1 below the hearth and partly impinging t ereon.

What I claim is 1. An apparatus for making preparations containing sulfurous acid comprising a chamber, a sulfur burner in said chamber comprising a retort, means for regulably supplying low-temperature molten sulfur to said retort and a burner nozzle beneath and in open communication with the retort and chamber.

2. An apparatus for making preparations containing sulfurous acid comprising a chamber, a sulfur burner in said chamber comprising a retort, means for regulably supplying low-temperature molten sulfur to said retort, a burner nozzle'beneath and in open communication with the retort and chamber and means for supplying a jet of air to said nozzle.

3. In a sulfur burner, means for supplying molten sulfur, a retort chamber com: municating with said means, a jet nozzle in open communication with said retort and located to direct a flame jet therebeneath, a

ber formed by the dishing, a top plate form- 1 ing a roof for said chamber, means for introducing molten sulfur into said chamber and means for directing an air current through said nozzle.

apparatus for burning sulfur comprising a chamber, a retort in said chamber, means for supplying molten sulfur attached to said chamber and in communication with said retort, and a jet nozzle in communication with said retort and said chamber and located beneath the retort whereby sulfur may be delivered from said retort into said chamber.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK E. oooMBs.v Witnesses J. W. Bowm,

ROBERTSON. 

